Hi Again

Below is the substance of my email to CALM on things I noted on the
track requiring attention. Might be useful to those planing walks in
these sections:

(1) CALM Dwellingup advised on August 18, 2003 that they had put water
into the temporary campsite. This is at odds with the information they
have on the News Ticker website.

(2) Crossed the Beedulep Falls bridge on September 6, 2003. It was
open. This information is incorrect on the news feed.

(3) Rats are a serious problem at Boarding House and Beedulep and
looking at the registers have been for some time. Mice are also
evident at Helena, Canning and Tom Road.

(4) Hewett's Hill to Ball Creek: Poor marking for southbounders at
Weir (shows only scenic route option, not weir crossing, wheras
northbounders have Waugals showing both options) and at the Hotel.
Also the sign at South Ledge platform was not in the ground and
therefore misleading.

(5) Helena to Waalegh: Where the track crosses and then re-crosses
the creek, approx. 1 km north of Waalegh, it is not clear as to the
southbound direction, i.e., the track recrosses the creek. Lack of
markers for southbounders. There is evidence here and in the register
of people missing the track turning.

(6) Waalegh to Beraking: Track is poorly marked; spur to Beraking is
not clearly marked and is easily missed. Register at Waalegh notes
this happen.

(7) Swamp Oak: Feeding or leaving out food has lead the local
Kookaburra to get aggressive. It now swoops the table out front of the
hut and folks if they have food in their hands are also being
attacked.

(8) Swamp Oak to Murray: The hand-cut sections between the campsites
are seriously overgrown and in need of urgent maintenance. Notes in
register suggest the problem has been there for around 6 months.

(9) Murry to Dookanelly: Notes in register at Murray indicate no
Waugal for northbounders at left turn off the Murray Fireline at
Almanc Brook.

(10) Yabberup to Noggerup: The track is very poorly marked between
Reference Tree EW 66 3 and Glen Mervyn Dam. Sparse Waugals, exisiting
ones are pooly placed and points of judgement are not marked. First
time I had to rely on the guidebook to work out where the track went!
Comments in the registers.

(11) Boarding House to Beavis: Lot of tree fell; overgrown sections of
track etc. Maintenance needed in this section.

(12). Beedelup: No brush or broom to sweep hut out, hence very grotty
at the moment. Not helping to discourage Ronald the Rat.

(13). Gregory Brook: A lot of folks are noting the dust problem here
and calling for wood chips. Might be worth considering.

(14) The provision of larger storage bins (40 or 60 L) at Boarding
House and Beavis is a damn good idea, especially with the rat
problems. Something to seriously consider for all campsites.

Regards
Andrew Priest